Staff & Board

STAFF

Josefa Vaughan, Founder and Executive Director: Josefa has recently returned to the Board to serve as secretary until a new officer is found for that position. Her classical and cutting-edge art projects began connecting gifted and vulnerable communities in the year 2000. Despite her teenage homelessness, she has lectured widely, is a Djerassi Resident Artist Program alum, has won Awards from the San Francisco Arts Commission, and has been a juror for the California Arts Council.

Gino Bella, Logistics and Outreach Manager. Gino is the father of two young ArtSeed artists, Louisse and Olivia. He manages ArtSeed events and constantly tries to reach out to past and potential partners to help the non-profit carry out its mission to connect the gifted and the vulnerable communities together through art.

Jennifer Spencer, Office Assistant

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Edna Arterberry, Community Elder – Edna is a recently retired social worker for foster families (which she did for 20 years) at the Department of Human Services, City of San Francisco. Prior to this she has worked in Bayview Hunters Point for over 21 years as manager of California Association of Health, Education, Employment and Dignity. She was on the advisory board of San Francisco General Hospital and the Southeast Health Center. She is actively involved in Cornerstone Baptist as a teacher for high school students and is a leader on the scholarship committee. She hopes that ArtSeed can touch as many lives as possible through art and community service through commitment, love and success at creating a healthier environment.

Ben Berkley, President and Chairman of the Board – Ben holds a BA (cum laude) in Philosophy from University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor from University of San Francisco. Ben is a commercial real estate attorney, and a member of the State Bar of California.

Sabine Gysens, Ph.D., Outreach and Fundraising Committee – Sabine is a native of Belgium but has called San Francisco home for more than 20 years. She received her doctorate degree from the Academy of Paris (summa cum laude) and came to the Bay Area to pursue post-doctoral work in Neuropsychology. She has worked as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in private practice, has consulted for more than a decade with CPMC’s rehabilitation department, taught medical students at UCSF as an assistant professor, and published research and spoke at conferences in her field. She has also pursued training and education in art curation, a passion that is long-standing. Sabine has curated several art shows in the area and continues to pursue projects and partnerships with art organizations and artists.

Kevin Quan, Treasurer – Kevin has been the finance manager for a private real estate investment firm and has experience with nonprofit and public affairs organizations. He holds B.A.s from UC Davis in Political Science and Communications. As a San Francisco native, Kevin is active with a number of local Chinese organizations.

Barbra A. Richardson, Bayview Hunters Point Community Liaison – Barbra A. Richardson worked for the University of California School of Dentistry for 35 years, 25 of them as Admissions Officer. She volunteers at the Leola Havard Early Education School in Bayview Hunters Point where her grandson, Kali Richardson, has been an ArtSeed 2012 Apprentice. She has also volunteered at the American Conservatory Theatre for many years.

ArtSeed’s Founder and Executive Director Josefa Vaughan recently returned to the Board to serve as Secretary until a new officer is found for that position.

ArtSeed’s Youth Council is an exciting program for 6th-12th grade students looking to get involved with public programming, student government, and artistic development! The Council meets monthly to collaborate on projects associated with ArtSeed. We are currently looking for new members! If you are interested, please don’t hesitate to email us at info@artseed.org or call us: 415.656.9849.

Latest Photos on Flickr

ArtSeed is supported in large part by individual gifts of all sizes and by gifts of time and expertise from friends. We are immensely grateful for recent generous donations from the Sam Mazza Foundation, The Gavrich Family and Tony and Caroline Grant. Thank you all very much! Click to see a full list of sponsors and in-kind donors. Please call us if you see updates and corrections that are needed.

ArtSeed’s mission is to connect the most resourceful and gifted with the youngest and most vulnerable citizens of the Bay Area and beyond through projects that explore links between classical and cutting-edge fine arts disciplines. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, political party, economic background, national citizenship, religion or ethnic origin.